Schwartz switched jockeys, putting Javier Castellano back on the 5-year-old French-bred mare. Brown, the young trainer with just under five years experience running his own stable, had Zagora ready for the $2 million race. She sat a patient, ground-saving trip. Behind pacesetters Star Billing and Marketing Mix, Castellano moved her to the outside at the top of the stretch, and she prevailed by three-quarters of a length.

"She had everything go her way today," Brown said. "She got the turf she likes. She got a great trip, and she's been training great. I've never seen her look better health-wise. Everything came together for her today, and it couldn't happen to a horse that deserved it more."

Zagora is scheduled to be sold at auction on Monday at Keeneland, and the Filly and Mare Turf is likely to be the final race of career in which she earned over $2.2 million.

Although she had won four stakes this year and was coming off a gutty second-place finish over yielding turf in the Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont Park, Zagora was the 9-1 fourth choice in the wagering. She paid $20.40 after completing the 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.70.

Marketing Mix, who had a half-length lead at the top of the stretch, finished second by a half-length over the 8-5 favorite, The Fugue, who had traffic problems in the race. Trained in England by John Godsen and ridden by William Buick, The Fugue came to the Breeders' Cup following a strong season in Europe highlighted by a win in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.

"She was a bit unlucky," Gosden said. "She didn't have any room, and William was sitting there with nowhere to go. It wasn't until the last sixteenth that she got out, and she finished well. That's racing."

Brown, 34, has handled Zagora for the two seasons since Schwartz imported her from France. He was pleased that she drew post two in the 12-horse field and figured she would be effective running along the rail. Castellano, who was replaced by Ramon Dominguez during the summer, followed the script Brown had written.

"I was in the pocket trip that I wanted," Brown said. "I was starting to get concerned around the three-eighths pole that the horses around her also had a lot of horse left, therefore I wasn't going to get any racing room. But as it turns out, Javier made a masterful move turning for home and found a seam and it gave her a chance.

"What Javier and I talked about with our mounts today was just give them a chance. Put them in position to show their stuff. If we lose, we lose. In both mounts today (Watsdachances was second in the Juvenile Filly Turf), I'm so proud of him the way he rode those horses. He gave both of them a chance to win turning for home. That's all I can ask. That's all any trainer can ask for."

Castellano made Schwartz's decision to put him back on Zagora look like a genius move.

"I had a beautiful trip," he said. "I was just where I wanted to be behind the speed. Turning for home, I went to the outside and she gave me a good kick. It's a pleasure to be a part of this. Chad gave me a great opportunity to ride her."

Trainer Tom Proctor was pleased with Marketing Mix's performance in the Filly and Mare Turf. The 4-year-old had a strong season with four wins in six starts prior to the Breeders' Cup.

"The filly that won has been a good filly all year," Proctor said. "Take nothing away from her. Our filly ran good; the other filly just ran better. This is an exceptional filly, and we're proud of her. She will be going to Florida in a day or two to spend some time on the farm, and she will be back in training next year."

Mike Kane writes for the Louisville Journal-Courier, a property of Gannett.